The Sunday Junkie: Feb. 10 edition

Jose Aldo vs. Anthony Pettis. The biggest story of the past week in many people’s eyes also seems to have divided the MMA community in many ways.

In this week’s edition of “The Sunday Junkie,” our weekly reader-feedback feature, MMAjunkie.com readers discuss that unexpected matchup, as well as the use of TRT in MMA, Uriah Hall’s flashy “TUF” knockout and much more.

This week’s winning entry, which came from Ohio’s “Jackson,” believes Aldo vs. Pettis is a tantalizing matchup and doesn’t understand why there’s any backlash at all.

For his winning entry, “Jackson” receives a free one-year subscription to “Fighters Only” magazine, the world’s leading MMA and lifestyle magazine.

“Jackson” – as well as runners-up Brady Leonard and “Bigshoe” Lannoo – also win DVD copies of the MMA-themed comedy “Here Comes the Boom.”

Want to submit to next week’s edition of The Sunday Junkie? Scroll to the bottom of the page for instructions.

Also, as a reminder, please be sure to include your hometown and stick within the 150-word limit (and include your submission in the body of an email, not in an attachment). Many quality submissions this week didn’t meet those minimum guidelines and couldn’t be considered for publication.

(Pictured: Anthony Pettis)

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ALDO-PETTIS AN INCREDIBLE MATCHUP

What in the hell is wrong with MMA fans? I’ve seen quite a bit of complaining about the announcement of Jose Aldo vs. Anthony Pettis. Are you serious? This fight will be absolutely incredible. I get it – Pettis hasn’t yet competed at featherweight. Who cares? Randy Couture vs. Chuck Liddell, anyone? You know, when “The Natural” moved down a division and challenged for the title in his first bout in the new weight class? Yes, Ricardo Lamas is the No. 1 contender right now. But take titles, rankings and all that out of the picture and tell me, which fight would you really rather see? Yeah, that’s what I thought. You want to complain? Go after TRT users. Gripe about uneducated judges and referees. But whining about Aldo vs. Pettis? Wow. Get real.

“Jackson”
Dayton, Ohio

PETTIS VS. ALDO GOOD FOR FEATHERWEIGHT DIVISION

A lot of people seem upset that the UFC is giving another title shot to a fighter moving to a new weight class for the first time, but I think, at least in this case, that it’s a great idea. The featherweight division still needs time to develop its stars. Chad Mendes needs another win or two to justify a title shot. Same with Chan Sung Jung. There are also guys like Dennis Siver and Clay Guida who recently moved down from lightweight and Cub Swanson who is on a crazy KO streak and might find himself at the top of the pile very soon, but these guys still need time. Ricardo Lamas – OK, he got screwed, but let’s be honest: Who doesn’t want to see Aldo fight Pettis?

Brady Leonard
Toledo, Ohio

LATEST TITLE FIGHT ANNOUNCEMENT TROUBLING

With the latest trend of lightweights dropping down to 145 pounds for immediate title shots, where does this leave the actual featherweights? Don’t get me wrong, I think Jose Aldo and Anthony Pettis is an interesting matchup, but just because “Showtime” earned a lightweight title fight doesn’t mean he should be able to switch divisions and automatically be the No. 1 contender. I will admit he seems more deserving than Frankie Edgar did, since he is coming off a three-fight win streak. But lightweights dropping down should at least have to defeat one featherweight contender before earning a shot at UFC gold. It is a slap in the face to guys like Ricardo Lamas and Chan Sung Jung – guys who have earned their way to the featherweight title picture.

“Bigshoe” Lannoo
Chesterfield, Mich.

UFC LOSING GRIP ON REALITY

I hate to say it, but the UFC has been acting more like the WWE than a sporting organization. Anthony Pettis gaining a title shot against Jose Aldo due to a text he sent to Dana White is the equivalent of Duke asking the NCAA if they could play for the Big East championship. Pettis has zero relevance in the 145-pound division, and this title shot coming on the heels of Chael Sonnen’s shot against Jon Jones proves that there is no meaning behind weight classes and no hope for up-and-coming fighters to progress. The UFC needs to market superfights farther apart to give a sense of novelty to it, otherwise fans will grow used to dream matchups at the expense of lower card fights.

Ben Hyman
Brookline, Massachusetts

UFC’S LIGHTWEIGHT TITLE PICTURE MURKY

This past week, it was revealed that Anthony “Showtime” Pettis, who was already the next title challenger at 155 pounds, has decided to drop to featherweight and challenge long-reigning champion Jose Aldo. This will give us fans an exciting fight, but what does this mean for the lightweight division? With Pettis facing Aldo, Frankie Edgar staying at 145 pounds and Gray Maynard injured, the UFC’s lightweight title picture isn’t only damaged, it’s missing. Current lightweight champion Ben Henderson will fight former Strikeforce champion Gilbert Melendez in April, and after their battle, title challengers will be missing, Unless Dana White will present Pettis with the “Edgar treatment” if he losses to Aldo.

Kobi “The Hulk” Rozental
Ramat-Gan, Israel

HUMILITY IN VICTORY PROVIDES MEMORABLE UFC MOMENT

The promotion of “one of the most brutal knockouts in UFC history” on this week’s “TUF” had me worried. I thought national television exposure to a vicious moment might fuel fire against the sport. But then something else happened. Uriah Hall (perpetrator of the KO) did not celebrate; he was not elated with what he did. He showed genuine concern for his actions, even apologizing while his opponent was unconscious. We are all aware the sport comes with dangers and things like this will happen, like in any sport, but the actions of Hall were beyond admirable. Perhaps more fighters like this would prove to some people that there is humanity in the sport, and these people do not look to feed their blood lust. Thank you, Uriah Hall for producing one of my favorite UFC moments – an amazing KO combined with your humility and humbleness.

Sean Cowley
Hong Kong

URIAH HALL BRINGS REAL MEANING TO “TUF 17″

Before the latest season of “The Ultimate Fighter” started, Dana White foreshadowed a fighter who everyone in the house was afraid of – a fighter who puts everyone he fights into hospital. A fighter who will cause one of his opponents to undergo a nervous breakdown. I’m betting that fighter is Uriah Hall. The way he talks about his upcoming fights, and the way he describes his rationale for disliking a fellow competitor is scary. Hall is a scary individual and his spin-kick knockout of Adam Cella cements him as the season’s front runner. The drama will now be to see if anyone can beat him. These are the ingredients for a successful tournament-style format. Recent seasons may have lacked this aspect, but not “TUF 17.” This season is indeed shaping out nicely with the potential for some intriguing matchups in the finals.

Andrew Ponton
Oslo, Norway

IS TRT RUINING THE SPORT?

This past week, we learned that Vitor Belfort received a TRT exemption for his fight with Michael Bisping. Surely it didn’t surprise many people. His size and physique are as good as they have ever been. My question is where does the UFC draw the line? Do they let it slide because it’s a method that just about anyone can take if they want the advantage? Do they just keep letting these guys come in “juiced up” to fight guys that are clean? I suppose the main advantage is we get to see some of our favorite fighters have a longer career. So as we watch these guys enter in peak shape and win, does the victory mean that much to you knowing they were pumped full against an opponent that wasn’t? Or should we just sit back and hope more people do it and give us the most exciting fights we have seen?

“The Hammer”
Ontario, Canada

DANA WHITE’S BULLYING OF RANDY COUTURE UNNECESSARY

Shortly after Randy Couture signed on to be a coach on the new Bellator MMA reality series on Spike TV, Dana White blasted him in the media, even going as far as to say that Couture wasn’t the same person behind closed doors. All this name-calling and bad-mouthing reminds me of high-school drama. Last I checked, if it wasn’t for two guys named Randy Couture and Chuck Liddell coaching the first season of “The Ultimate Fighter,” Dana wouldn’t have a billion-dollar company called the UFC behind him, would he? Dana, it’s simple: If someone wants to leave for other opportunities, let them! Stop making yourself look like bad when someone wants to do something different.

Cody Ryan
Oshawa, Ontario, Canada

IS RYAN COUTURE BEING SET UP TO FAIL?

UFC officials recently announced that Ryan Couture would be making his UFC debut against Ross Pearson at UFC on FUEL TV 9. The son of Randy Couture will make his UFC debut against an eight-tine UFC veteran and the winner of “The Ultimate Fighter 9,” and he will have to do it presumably without his father in his corner. Dana White, while saying he wants Ryan in the UFC, also said his father would not be allowed to attend. With such an opponent and a big part of his corner gone, I can’t help but think he is being set up to fail.

Marcelino Pena
Kingsville, Texas

“PRIMETIME” IMPRESSES WITH LOOK AT RONDA ROUSEY

I’m a big fan of UFC “Primetime,” and this past week I got to know Ronda Jean Rousey. We’ve all heard of Ronda the Olympic athlete, Ronda the martial artist, and “Rowdy,” the babe who breaks arms and has a habit of saying outrageous stuff. This week, I met Ronda the daughter, the fighter, and the woman who isn’t afraid to look the audience in the eye and tell them exactly how she feels about her father’s death. And like all of us, we can see that Ronda is carrying a large part of her past life with her. What makes Ronda different is what she’s been able to accomplish. And would her father be proud? How could he not? Like Ronda said herself, she’ll never know for sure, but I do know I’d be proud to have a daughter who had the courage she does.

Duncan Marsh
Surrey, British Columbia, Canada

“UFC PRIMETIME” PROVES WOMEN BELONG IN MMA

Friday’s “UFC Primetime” episode of Rousey vs. Carmouche showcased the stories of the two female fighters currently in the spotlight of the MMA world, and the video is a perfect testament to the idea that women belong in this sport. With Ronda Rousey and Liz Carmouche set to fight on a UFC pay-per-view in a couple of weeks, the UFC has received considerable flak for putting a female fight (their first female fight) as the headliner of a pay-per-view card. This “Primetime” episode illustrates that the lives of women can be just as harsh and troubling as the lives of many male fighters. Both of them were at one point in financial trouble and unsure what to do with their lives until they found a home in MMA. We can only hope that the masses will accept these two female fighters and many more into the world of MMA.

“rob7″
Windsor, Ontario, Canada

MMA KARMA RESULTS IN TWO BRUTAL LOSSES

MMA karma seems to the the topic of the week as two displays of disrespect before a fight by Alistair Overeem and Maiquel Falcoa resulted in two brutal losses. Two fresh slices of humble pie served. It seems to me that lately there has been way too much emphasis on trash talk and title fight demands. We have come too far from the dark days of “No Holds Barred” to fall into the negative stigma that most MMA fighters are thugs.

“Dan G”
Moncton, New Brunswick, Canada

COMPETITION NECESSARY FOR UFC TO THRIVE

Not every fight fan (or even fighter) agrees with the UFC’s plan of destroying its biggest competitors. This has come up with the demise of many organizations but lately has resurfaced with Greg Jackson and Randy Couture’s decisions to participate in Viacom’s Bellator reality series. I say the more competition for the UFC – especially as long as they have the better talent pool and resources – the better it is for them. With the start-up World Series of Fighting getting a TV contract and Bellator’s weekly shows, it gives plenty of people a chance to catch the non-UFC fighters in action and understand why their product is the NHL/NFL/NBA of MMA versus the collegiate or semi-professional leagues. However, one only realizes how great the best promotions are in contrast to the lowest regional levels and all those in between. Such a competitive sport needs business competition, too.

John Hossack
New Maryland, New Brunswick, Canada

SILVA-OVEREEM RESULTS IN INCREDIBLE OVERREACTION IN MMA COMMUNITY

Since this past Saturday night’s Antonio Silva knockout of Alistair Overeem, most MMA websites, forums and radio shows have been talking about “Bigfoot” facing Cain Velasquez for a title shot and Overeem being washed up. Did the fans and experts not watch that fight? Overeem was knocked out, and viciously at that, but it was after he won the first two rounds. He lost because his gameplan was to clown Silva by fighting with his hands down and chin out. How does Overeem having that gameplan make Silva the best choice for the champ? Also, how does that make Overeem washed up when he was one boring round away from getting the title shot? Silva won, deservedly so, but let’s not overreact and overhype what truly happened. “Bigfoot” is not ready for Velasquez, and if Overeem decided to put his hands up, he would not be finished either.

Matt Conrad
San Angelo, Texas

ROGAN’S COMMENTARY AFFECTS PERCEPTION OF FIGHTS

I just want to start off by saying that I have nothing but respect for Joe Rogan. He is the reason why I have a better understanding of MMA. But watching the Jose Aldo vs. Frankie Edgar fight made me realize that Rogan’s comments are actually very hypnotizing. Aldo is my favorite fighter in the UFC, hands down. But when I was watching the fight and waiting for the decision, Rogan had me questioning whether or not Aldo actually won the fight. Rogan’s commentating was so persuading that I actually thought Aldo might have lost. Then last night I decided to watch the fight again, without Joe Rogan in my ear, and I realized how easily Aldo won that fight. I’ve always heard fighters saying that they mute Rogan when they’re watching their own fight, but I never really understood what they meant till now.

W. Sueda
Tokyo, Japan

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